Is there a confirmed historic record of using "non-standard" live animals for military purposes?

To clarify, the following doesn't count due to either being standard or non-military:

"Standard" well known animals (e.g. horses/camels/elephants for mounts, dogs for a variety of purposes, dolphins by the navy). Doesn't have to be universally standard around the globe, e.g. camels are standard despite not ever being used as military mounts outside their habitat.

Animals typically used for non-military food/supplies included for similar logistical purposes.

Animals used for purposes identical to their civilian use with no clear military angle (e.g. carrier pigeons for communications, donkeys/mules for carrying/dragging things, cats for catching mice, leeches for medicinal purposes, monkeys for medical research).

Using animals' behavior in the wild (e.g. Rome's geese or forest animals for alarm purposes).

I'm thinking of really unusual uses, such as Odysseus' use of Cyclops' sheep to hide under in Odyssey, except in real well documented historical situation.

Ideally I'm looking for a good (well referenced) single resource such a book or web page on animal use for military purposes; or a single "yes" answer with strikingly unusual/unexpected example.

Extra plus if the use was either a spectacular one-time success, or a stable practice for a specific culture/location/commander.

Just to clarify theoretical cases that would count: using a herd of wild buffalo to stampede the enemy. Throwing cobras on the path of advancing enemy unit. Luring the enemy to cross pirania-infested river. Leaving a tranqed rhino in the middle of enemy camp in the middle of the night. Launching chickens like arrows from a bow (h/t Charlie Sheen). Using a giraffe as wall scaling equipment during a siege.
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DVKNov 23 '11 at 18:21

8 Answers
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The most striking example that immediately occurs to me is the development of the Bat Bomb by the United States during World War Two. It was conceived by dental surgeon Lytle S. Adams with the premise that bats carrying timed incendiary devices would be released over Japanese cities at high altitudes, disperse over a wide area during the night (secluding themselves in buildings across the city) and then explode the next day causing widespread damage and panic.

The project was approved by President Roosevelt in 1942 but was eventually overtaken by Atomic bomb development and then cancelled in 1944.

The War-Pig has a long and notable history, used primarily by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a countermeasure against war elephants. Some models were incendiary - the besieged would light pigs on fire, aim them at enemy elephant formations, and let them run free.

During the second Israeli-Lebanon war in 2006, one Israeli brigade used llamas. However, the IDF are considering releasing their stocks of Oryxes,Llamas and Barbary sheep who have been faithfully serving Israel for some years.

Llamas have advantages over mules for cross country work but have difficulty in terraced terrain. They don't like big steps. The antelopes will stay as their skills in brush clearance make them appreciated. Apparently , veterinary care is the main driving factor here. Antelopes are low maintenance whilst llamas are not, with dental work being quite costly.

So now Harald thought up a scheme: he told his bird–catchers to catch
the small birds that nested within the town and flew out to the woods
each day in search of food. Harald had small shavings of fir tied to
the backs of the birds, and then he smeared the shavings with wax and
sulphur and set fire to them. As soon as the birds were released they
all flew straight home to their young in their nests in the town; the
nests were under the eaves of the roofs, which were thatched with
reeds or straw. The thatched roofs caught fire from the birds, and
although each bird could only carry a tiny flame, it quickly became a
great fire; a host of birds set roofs alight all over the town. One
house after another caught fire, and soon the whole town was ablaze.

During the Second Punic War, when Hannibal was trapped by Fabius Maximus, he had torches tied to cows, put out all other lights and drove them towards the area between the main army of Fabius and the troops that he had guarding a pass. Fabius feared a plot and was afraid to move, while his troops at the pass thought the cows were soldiers and went to attack them, leaving the pass open for Hannibal to take. (sources: Polybius, Appian, Livius)

Many years later, when Hannibal was fighting for Prusias of Bithynia, he fought a naval battle against Eumenes of Pergamum in which his fleet was inferior both in numbers and in ability. He therefore sought poisonous snakes, put them in earthen vessels and had his troops throw them onto the ships of the enemy. Eumenes' troops were surprised at this move and had no idea how to deal with it, so they withdrew. (source: Cornelius Nepos)

Caracalla, when attacking the Parthians, apparently employed wild beasts in battle. However, as far as I'm aware, this is only attested by the very dubious Historia Augusta that is known to contain a substantial amount of fiction.

My favorite such use is the missile guidance system developed by BF Skinner (of Skinner box fame) during WW2. It used pigeons. To quote Wikipedia's article on "Project Pigeon":

The control system involved a lens at the front of the missile projecting an image of the target to a screen inside, while a pigeon trained (by operant conditioning) to recognize the target pecked at it. As long as the pecks remained in the center of the screen, the missile would fly straight, but pecks off-center would cause the screen to tilt, which would then, via a connection to the missile's flight controls, cause the missile to change course.

There was one well-known case during the Chilean War of Independence in 1814. Trapped in the city of Rancagua, and outnumbered some eight or ten to one, the Chilean revolutionary, Bernardo O'Higgins rounded up the local farm animals (cows, pigs, chickens) etc., and threw them against the Spanish lines encircling him, using the animals as cannon and musket fodder. In the ensuing confusion, the rebels managed to escape.

The link provided (wikipedia) no longer provides the details within this answer. However, this link seekingalpha.com/instablog/399221-graham-and-dodd-investor/… "O'Higgins had his own story to tell, having recently survived a siege by 1,200 men, nearly ten times his own number. Wounded and semi-delirious, he conceived a brilliant plan for escaping the death trap of a village called Rancaugua. With few men, he realized that he would have enough TROOPS to break out, if he rounded up the local farm animals and used them as cannon fodder ..."
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E1SuaveMay 28 '12 at 13:09

@E1Suave: I wrote that other piece. Under a pen name. Thanks for reading.
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Tom AuJul 11 '12 at 18:18